FOXBOROUGH – It wasn’t the first time the Bills had been displeased with Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes. In the first game between New England and Buffalo, Spikes laid a hard hit on tight end Scott Chandler, a hit that was still fresh in their minds when Spikes smashed into quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter.

The hit drew a roughing the passer penalty, and an expletive from Fitzpatrick directed toward Spikes. It drew an equally strong reaction after the game.

“We’re not going to back down from anybody. Spikes is an emotional player,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think he’s a punk at times. He took a cheap shot at Scott [Chandler] in the first game, and he was doing a lot of jabbering and talking and getting out there.

“Not one of my favorite players. Not high on my list.”

Center Eric Wood called Spikes a “headhunter.” He added, “I guess he was trying to take Fitz out of the game.”